Case for clocks



F eb. 16, 1932. ss AM l,845,877

CCCCCCCCCCC KS Patented F eb. 16, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEDUDLEY S. INGRAHAM, OF BRISTOL, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOB TO THE E. INGRAEMCOMPANY, OF BRISTOL, CONNECTIUT, A CORPORATION CASE FOR CLOCKSApplication filed January 21, 1930. Serial No. 422304.

This invention relates to an improvement in cases for clocks andparticularly to cases formed of Wood or other soft and easily bruisedmaterial.

It is a well recognized fact among manufacturers, retailers and usersthat the parts of wooden clock-cases most subj ected to bruising andmarring are the sharp corners or edges thereof, and that such marringand bruising is especially noticeable at the sharp corners or edges atthe junction of the front face and the top and side walls of the case.

The main object of this invention is to provide at a low cost formanufacture, an attractive case of the character referred to, which willbe substantial proof against the bruising of its normally Visible edges.

With the above and other objects in View as will appear from thefollowing, my invention consists in a case formed of relatively softmaterial and having a guard-strp of relatively hard material, such ascelluloid, inset into a groove formed in one or more of its normallyvisible corners or edges, to prevent the bruising of the softer materialadjacent thereto.

My invention further consists in a case for clocks and other instrumentscharacterized as above, having certain other details of construction andcombinations of parts as will be hereinafter described and particularlyrecited in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings:

F ig. 1 is a View in front elevation of a tambour type clock-caseembodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a top or plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a broken transverse sectional view taken on the line 3-3 ofFig. 1, but on a larger scale;

Fig. 4 is a sectional View corrcsponding to Fig. 3, but showing the casebefore the guardstrip has been installed therein; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective View of the guardstrip, detached.

For the illustration of my invention, I have chosen a clock-case of thewell-known tambour type, though it is obvious without furtherillustration, that my invention is not limited to this particular designof case. The

case in question consists of a relatively thick front-panel having athin sheet of veneer 11 cemented to its forward face, a backpanel 12, abase 13 and a curved and relatively thin top-sheet or wall 14, all ofwhich parts are of wood or other easily-bruised material. The undersides of the respective opposite ends of the base 13 are provided, asshown, with the usual resilient hemispherical feet 15.

By reference to Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings, it will be noted that thecurved topsheet or wall extends forward over the frontpanel 10 to whichit is secured by glue or other suitable means, and that is terminatessubstantially flush with the rear face of the thin sheet of veneer ll.It will also be noted that the upper edge of the veneer 11 of thefront-panel 10 registers with the under face of the top-sheet 14 beforereferred to, so as to produce in the upper forward edge or corner of thecase a curved longtudinal guard-receiving groove 16 extending below theupper surface of the top-sheet 14 and the front surface of the veneer11.

F or the purpose of protecting the exposed surfaces of the top-sheet 14and the veneer 11, adjacent the groove 16, from bruising or otherinjury, I inset into the said groove a long strip 17 of celluloid orother relatively hard bruise-resisting material, which is curved inlongitudinal form to conform to the curvature of the upper forward edgeof the clock-case. The said guard-strip may be secured in place in anyapproved manner such as, for instance, by cement.

By means of my invention, I have obviated one of the main sources ofloss occasioned to manufacturers and retailers as well as users, sincethe eXposed and normally visible front corner or edge of the case isguarded against bruising or marring by the presence of the relativelyhard guard-strip 17, which in addition to serving as a guard, enhancesthe appearance of the case to which it is applied.

I claim:

In a clock-case, the combination with a front clock-case panel having aconvex upper edge, of a convex top-member overlapping upon and Securedto the upper edge of i the said front panel; a relatvely-thn Sheet 'ofVeneer Secured to the front face of the said front panel and having itsupper edge termnatng short of the top surface of the said top-member toform a guarcl-recevng groove; and a boWed guard-strp of relativel'y-hardbruise-resstng material installed 'n the said groove n position to restupon the upper edge of the said front Veneer to symmetrcally j on thefront surface thereof with the convex upper surface'of the saidtopmember. e i

In'testmony Whereof I have signed this specificaton. r

DUDLEY S. INGRAHAM.

